Let’s try and wrap the week up with something positive. After the tragic events in Belgium we should celebrate a Brussels icon. Hergé’s boy wonder Tintin. He knows how to chase culprits with speed and determination. Which is how the European authorities are conducting their efforts to find out who was behind the attacks. His ride is a Terrot motorcycle built in Dijon France.
March 26, 2016
Great Snakes!
March 25, 2016
Le Moto Vendredi
En 1964, il participe au sein du « team USA » d’enduro au championnat du monde d’enduro (épreuve durant 6 jours) sur une moto Triumph de 650 cm³ à Erfurt en Allemagne de l’Est.
Un homme de moto…
March 24, 2016
King of Cool
“I learned that life is a long and difficult road, but you have to keep going, or you’ll fall by the wayside.” Steve McQueen March 24 1930 – Nov 7 1980
March 23, 2016
Pannier
If you have a hankering to tote items around on your bike then a nice pair a bags slung over the rear wheel is the way to go. These new sacks from Triumph certainly look the part. A nice dark brown color with a gentle sweep-back. 
Looks good on a coffee & cream color scheme Bonneville.
March 22, 2016
Seeing Red
Belgium took the brunt of World affairs today with the heinous and cowardly attacks by terrorists in Brussels. Many dead, a shocked population and a further need to eliminate crazed fundamental belief systems that wish ordinary folk just trying to get on with their lives to be murdered for their empty cause. Just plain Wrong! Civilization needs to advance folks! Not degenerate into a Dark Ages.
Here’s a beautiful 1933 Belgian 500cc Gillet Herstal Supersport to remember that there are great things in the world to enjoy.
Oh. And Belgian Chocolate…
March 21, 2016
Black Cat
Feline mascot looking windward on the fo’castle of this lively green Sunbeam. Pilot heaves this classic inline twin along the road proudly.
March 20, 2016
A Short Life of Trouble
“First of all, Michael is very quiet, but he’s a visual man. And he and I would look at the same thing. We wouldn’t even have to talk to each other, just look. Incredible pleasure would build up. Secondly, we camped and so we were outdoors all the time. Riding across the country on a motorcycle in ’61-’62 is a great adventure. Cops would pull up to us, and they’d say, “Hey, where are you going? What can we do for you?” People gave us food. People told us stories.” Marcia Tucker
Here’s a timeless image of a young adventure prone gal in the early sixties raveling the country as an impoverished art student. The bike is a BSA A10. She went on to become a renowned art critic & historian, curator, and of course motorcyclist.
Her Biography.
March 19, 2016
Hold On!
Delightful pen-and-ink drawings by Cat Bowman Smith used to illustrate the ‘un-education’ books by Amy Macdonald. The combination is piloted by Aunt Mattie and ably passengered by Uncle Philbert. The line work reminds me of the penmanship of Edward Ardizzone who added imagery to much loved children’s books such as The Otterbury Incident by C Day Lewis and Stig of the Dump by Clive King, among others.
March 18, 2016
Marmalade
Golly! The Robertson Preserve Company make the second best orange shredded jam. My father makes the best! Their mascot was used for enamel colored metal badges that were collected. This is a cute combination.
March 17, 2016
Team Green
To celebrate St Patrick’s day here is a couple of old snaps from the memory banks. Me and my Kawasaki Ninja which was my main mode of transportation for a few years when we first settled here in Chicago. She had plenty of oomph, easily cracking the ton and a half, and that lime green sure was a purdy color.
I really enjoyed zipping along Lake Shore Drive ; water on one side, buildings the other.
March 16, 2016
Percival’s steed
In the 1969 Belgian Grand Prix, on the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in the Ardennes, Tait was riding Triumph’s entry for the 500cc race – a version of the Triumph Daytona developed by Doug Hele. Percy travelled with the mechanics Arthur Jakeman and Jack Shemans in an old Ford Transit van, in which the three of them also had to sleep.
Percy led the world champion Giacomo Agostini for three laps to finish second to the MV Agusta at an average speed of 116 mph.
March 15, 2016
The British Rouge Sheep Society, Knighton Flock
Triumph racing team member, chief test rider and all-round motorcycle guru: Percy Tait. Riding twins and triples at Grand Prix, The TT, Bol d’Or, NW200 and a million miles of road testing in between. This photo is taken during a one thousand mile endurance race in the sixties on s production bike.
In latter years he has become a show winning sheep breeder.
March 14, 2016
3.1416
March 14th is celebrated as pi day in the US. π
One of my favorite pies is pumpkin pie. Topped with a dollop of cream. Today I enjoyed a slice of cherry pie a la mode.
March 13, 2016
Look Back
Upon reflection this is a good idea. I acquired a near side mirror to attach to the handlebar end offering a little more all-round visibility. I still always to a head check on both sides before moving across anyways- this just adds to the sense of awareness. Both mirrors are by California based CRG the left is a 3″ dia. Model Hindsight. The right is the smaller 2″ dia. Blindsight.
March 12, 2016
Ape Circus
Joe Lemke Chimps: On a Harley Davidson Hummer motorcycle are Sammy and Susie, and in the back ground are Marvin (L) and Joe (R). Photo from the Mary Gray Frasier collection.
The 2-Stroke 125 wasn’t truly an American bike; though built in Milwaukee WI, it was actually based on the German DKW as WW2 war reparations. The BSA Bantam and Soviets MMZ Moskva were other 125cc ‘cousins’.
